He said that one of my exhaust valves was 12 degrees off. Major Power loss.

Also, I had a missing tooth on my countershaft sprocket.

huntin season is comming...
http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_feb_2002/DuckDecoy.jpg

He said that one of my exhaust valves was 12 degrees off. Major Power loss.

Also, I had a missing tooth on my countershaft sprocket.

Please elaborate :? What do you mean 12 degrees off? Was the land on the valve cut 12 degrees off from the valve seat in the head? I'm not understanding what you are saying.

Or are you saying that one of your 4 exhaust valves was 12 degrees out of time from the other 3. You have 2 exhaust valves per head and each head has its own exhaust camshaft. I don't see how one valve could be off while the other exhaust valve that shares the same cam would be timed correct. This would mean that one of your camshafts had its 2 lobes 12 degrees out of phase from each other. Get to the bottom of this and let me know what the explanation is.

How the fuck were you missing a tooth on your c-shaft sprocket and not notice? How does one loose a tooth on a sprocket anyways? Was it aftermarket?

Next thing he is gonna tell you is that your left handed smoke shifter was defective so now the exhaust is gonna get in your eyes unless you give him $300 to fix it :wink: :lol:

He said that one of my exhaust valves was 12 degrees off. Major Power loss.

Also, I had a missing tooth on my countershaft sprocket.

Please elaborate :? What do you mean 12 degrees off? Was the land on the valve cut 12 degrees off from the valve seat in the head? I'm not understanding what you are saying.

Or are you saying that one of your 4 exhaust valves was 12 degrees out of time from the other 3. You have 2 exhaust valves per head and each head has its own exhaust camshaft. I don't see how one valve could be off while the other exhaust valve that shares the same cam would be timed correct. This would mean that one of your camshafts had its 2 lobes 12 degrees out of phase from each other. Get to the bottom of this and let me know what the explanation is.

How the fuck were you missing a tooth on your c-shaft sprocket and not notice? How does one loose a tooth on a sprocket anyways? Was it aftermarket?

Next thing he is gonna tell you is that your left handed smoke shifter was defective so now the exhaust is gonna get in your eyes unless you give him $300 to fix it :wink: :lol:

I'm running AFAM sprockets but the guy that changed my tires made the chain too tight. I can see that happening. I'll post a pic of the sprocket in a sec.

huntin season is comming...
http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_feb_2002/DuckDecoy.jpg

Nice pic fightmedic. :D

Find out more about that exhaust valve. It just doesn't sound right to me :?

Find out more about that exhaust valve. It just doesn't sound right to me :?

http://images.snapfish.com/342%3A87%3A323232%7Ffp47%3Dot%3E2335%3D9 73%3D%3C6%3C%3DXROQDF%3E23237698%3B9%3A5 5ot1lsi

Here's the pic of the countershaft.

When he was telling me about the exhaust valve he started going into all this technical stuff and I cut him off and told him to give me the lay-man's version. Maybe I mis-understood him but he definately said something about my exhaust valve being 12 degrees off.

PS. He's not charging me extra for anything, but he said that he thought I should know that.

All that torque my bike puts out ripped that tooth right off the countershaft sprocket.

I did notice that my bike was running funny. Maybe that was the problem all along. I was getting a lot of vibration.

I would still ask him about that left handed smoke shifter.....................

Ok, maybe I don't understand things, but doesn't a too tight chain cause counter shaft bearing problems, not sprocket teeth problems? I just don't see how the chain being too tight could break a tooth. The physics don't seem right. Granted I dropped out of physics, but... :roll: Be careful . You are spending a ton of money and shouldn't have to question if you are getting hosed.

Ok, maybe I don't understand things, but doesn't a too tight chain cause counter shaft bearing problems, not sprocket teeth problems?

It can cause tooth problems. Teeth can become rounded or chipped. Do a search on the web. You'll see a bunch of topics come up on this.

I'm with ByTor here. I think this guy is selling you muffler bearings or something. If the chain is too tight, it does lots more than just wear on the tooth. Also, I usually refer to that as the "front sprocket".

And that valve thing...unless its an angle of the valve, there isnt any way that one of the exhaust valves can be 12 degrees off in timing from another. In fact, 12 degree's is actually a pretty hefty difference in timing too. Your bike would probrobly be popping and loosing massive power all over the place. ByTor is 100% right. Your exhaust valves share a camshaft. They open and close pretty much at the same time. But there isnt any way they can be "off". The cam lobes dont really change rapidly over time, and only one one valve.

Maybe he means one of the shims on your valve was off by.012" That would be a pretty extreme case too. Clearance problems I'd guess.

Just seems weird. One of the reasons I dont trust dealers. :P

Rebel, I think you might have hit the nail on the head. I bet the valve was .012" out of adjustment so he was not getting maximum valve lift. This is not the first time Turbo has had his motor torn down so I bet his valve was either improperly adjusted or the jam nut on the rocker was not tightened down correctly.

Your bike would probrobly be popping and loosing massive power all over the place.

The bike was popping all over the place before I sent it back to him. Everytime I would give it full throttle, there would be a loud pop, a hesitation, then power.

Big Rome did a video of me Stuna, and himself and you can hear my bike "pop" before the second run. I was having major problems with this.

Again, I'm no gearhead. So maybe that's what he meant about 12 degrees thing. I'll find out today and post it.

Jeff Nash from Advanced Motorsports worked on my heads.

Rebel, I think you might have hit the nail on the head. I bet the valve was .012" out of adjustment so he was not getting maximum valve lift. This is not the first time Turbo has had his motor torn down so I bet his valve was either improperly adjusted or the jam nut on the rocker was not tightened down correctly.

Yea, that would do it. This is the bigger problem with most Ducati dealerships. There are "old world" and "new world" valve specs. In an attempt to enlongate the time between valve adjustments, Ducati upped the spec to be about .007" for the openers, and I think something around .006" for the closers.

Sooo Ducati shops do a valve inspection, see the opener is at .006" and the closer it as .005" and say "Hey, its in spec. No need to adjust". And they dont. And then you ride the piss out of your bike, the collets wear and harden, and the openers wear, and you end up with craazy out-of-spec valves like this.

When I do valves, I tighten 'em down to "old world" specs, where you run the openers at around .003" and the closers at .001" (or if your near redline alot, as close to .000" as you can get). Sure, for awhile the valve adjustments are more frequent, but I know the valves arnt wildly out of spec. Grr. Yet another reason not to trust Ducati dealerships. Only one I trust is BCM Ducati, and Ca-Cycleworks.

Its funny this comes up, I spent most of yesterday checking the clearances on my racebike. Got some pictures too. Easy stuff. (Except for the horizontal intake valve).

http://www.rebelpacket.net/gallery/albums/valve_adj/IMG_0621.sized.jpg

http://www.rebelpacket.net/gallery/albums/valve_adj/IMG_0628.sized.jpg
(this one is a pain in the ass).

http://www.rebelpacket.net/gallery/albums/valve_adj/IMG_0641.sized.jpg

I always check the clearances first, loaded and unloaded gap, and then figure out what I need to do to change them. Then one at a time, I pull off the shims, measure them, and write that down. Then in one foul swoop, I go to the dealership. The way I do it takes longer, so I end up stretching it out over a day or two. But its far less work, and less stressful than trying to get things done in time to get to the dealership for a lousy 7$ shim. Wankers. :P

Turbo, if your ever in CT, I'll show you how to check the clearances on your Testa. Its easy. Also, tell your dealership to adjust your valves down to a measurement YOU want. Otherwise, they'll go with the old ones. If they guy stands there and looks at you funny, tell him "Customer is always right, bitch. Now get to adjusting!". :D

I emailed my motor guy and asked him again. This is what he replied:

"Vertical head exhaust cam was advanced 12 deg when set straight up."

Rebel,

We'll definately hook up. When me and ByTor hook up for the trackday you can get down with us. Should be a blast.

Good luck with your motor Turbo, I might take the racing classes at Grattan this year, if I can afford it. So I will be able to hook up with you if you plan on hitting Grattan this year. It would be a real good time I am sure of that.

Good luck with your motor Turbo, I might take the racing classes at Grattan this year, if I can afford it. So I will be able to hook up with you if you plan on hitting Grattan this year. It would be a real good time I am sure of that.

I'm going to be at Grattan (MI) on May 21st and 22nd. My motor guy is sponsoring a trackday. It's all European but Japs can get in too I think. I think it's $75 per day. I'll definately be there because I'll be riding free both days. :D

Sport Bike Track Time is holding the event.

Hopefully everything works out & I'll see you there, I live about 20mi. from Grattan.

Turbo, sounds like you've got a good cat working on your motor. Cool beans!

12 degree's off your exhaust valve would most definitly cause some problems. I remember my SS was off 2 degree's and it was popping alot on decel through the mid-range. And I thought that was bad!

Cool beans. I dont know if I can get that far out for a trackday (MI?!) But I can most definitly make it to a NHIS trackday sometime if y'all are interested.

Turbo, sounds like you've got a good cat working on your motor. Cool beans!

12 degree's off your exhaust valve would most definitly cause some problems. I remember my SS was off 2 degree's and it was popping alot on decel through the mid-range. And I thought that was bad!

Cool beans. I dont know if I can get that far out for a trackday (MI?!) But I can most definitly make it to a NHIS trackday sometime if y'all are interested.

Pocono is closer. Let's hook up for a Pocono Date. FUSA course. A nice banking and 2 long straights with access to 2 infields. It has the best of everything.

Exhaust cam being out 12 degrees makes a whole lot more sence.

Turbo, don't worry about not being a gear head. The more questions you ask, the more you will learn.

Everything I know about engines and mechanics is self taught. Once you learn how to do this stuff on your own, you'll only need to know a good machinist to do all of your machine work and you can do all of the assembly yourself.

Stick with me kid, I'll take you under my wing :wink:

ps Turbo, next time you want to play a little game of online Jeopardy, you'd be wise not to ask me questions about engines. :wink: :lol:

Heh. I'm with By-Tor. This time last year, I didnt know how to change the spark-plugs on my bike. Some manuals, lots of time researching time online, and I know a great deal more about how engines, and it all works. (specifically Ducati's, although I've done some work on GeNeRaL's 954).

Just put some time into it Turbo, and before you know it, you'll be kickin tires, trading tech bullshit, and tellin lies like nobodies business. :)

No haynes manual for the testaretta yet... but alot of it is the same. I'm sure some quality time in By-Tor's garage with some beers, and a set of t-handles, and you'll have a new understanding of your bike. :)

How the crap did you get your avitar so big there rebelpacket, 100x100 mega pixels I thought :eek:

I just learned a lot...

That I dont think I want a duck :!:

i second that

How the crap did you get your avitar so big there rebelpacket, 100x100 mega pixels I thought :eek:

if you link your avatar from an off-site image, as opposed to uploading it, you can have a larger one.

Ive tried that and for some reason I cant get it to do it. Ill try it on the test section and see if I can get it to work.

Thanks general :wink: